Thursday, February 08, 2007
Bing asks Baciwa to avert water crisis
By Erwin Ambo S. Delilan
MAYOR Evelio Leonardia called on the Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) to prepare measures and avert a possible water crisis.
Leonardia said it's only the Baciwa that has the people, expertise and facilities on water matters.
He said he does not want the city to be caught by surprise of any water shortages.
Sun.Star tried to contact Baciwa officials but none were available for comment as of press time. They were reportedly in a board meeting the whole day Wednesday.
Last week, Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes reported of the looming water crisis that will affect nine key cities in the country.
Reyes said based on the DENR's Master Plan Study done in 1998, the Metro Manila and the cities of Bacolod, Cebu, Iloilo, Angeles, Zamboanga, Baguio and Cagayan de Oro.
Reyes said only 1,907 cubic meters of fresh water is available to each person each year making the country as the second to the lowest among Southeast Asian counctries in fresh water availability.
"Over extraction of ground water resulted in the lowering of the water table and a consequent increase in salinity," he said.
Reyes said that the uncoordinated and uncontrolled exploration of our country's water resources has had a major impact on the availability of clean and safe water at present, and has already jeopardized the supply of these resources for future generations.
In effect, the limitations in the country's water resources mean that we need to deal with the twin problems of resource availability and resource management unresolved and unsolved.
Reyes, then reminded everyone that the task of managing our water resources, of preserving them from contamination, of ensuring supply and distribution, and of controlling the damage that polluted or controlled water can inflict is the responsibility of everyone.For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Iloilo. (February 8, 2007 issue)
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